Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs BDSwiss, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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When comparing the online brokers Saxo and BDSwiss, it's evident that they differ significantly in their levels of trustworthiness and regulatory credentials. Founded in 1992, Saxo boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, showcasing its high reputation and reliability. As a banking institution, Saxo is distinguished by holding seven Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, signifying a firm regulatory foundation. In contrast, BDSwiss, established in 2012, holds a more modest Trust Score of 73. As it is not a bank, it possesses one Tier-1 license and lacks Tier-2 licenses, indicating a moderate level of regulatory trust.
Both Saxo and BDSwiss are not publicly traded, meaning they are not listed on any stock exchange. However, their regulatory statuses could influence potential traders' decisions. Saxo's numerous Tier-1 licenses suggest solid trust and dependability, while BDSwiss presents an average risk profile according to ForexBrokers.com ratings. This comparison highlights Saxo as a more highly-regarded option for those prioritizing regulatory backing in their online trading choices.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers Saxo and BDSwiss, Saxo offers some of the most competitive pricing in the industry, particularly for active and high-volume traders. Saxo's average spread on the EUR/USD is 1.1 pips for Classic accounts, reduced to 1.0 and 0.9 pips for Platinum and VIP accounts respectively. While the Classic account's spread is slightly above industry average, the Platinum and VIP pricing aligns more closely, making Saxo's offering attractive for those able to maintain higher account balances. Saxo also waives custody fees for traders participating in securities lending. A commission-free structure is generally available, although trading fewer than 50,000 units monthly incurs a $3 ticket fee per side. Saxo claims a high user satisfaction level with a perfect 5-star rating from ForexBrokers.com and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category.
In contrast, BDSwiss provides decent order execution but with spreads that are generally higher than some industry leaders. The Classic account incurs a spread of 1.5 pips on the EUR/USD, which is considered pricey. Their Raw account offers a more competitive rate with a 0.3 pips spread plus a $5 commission per side, effectively bringing the total to 1.3 pips. The VIP account at BDSwiss has a slightly better spread at 1.2 pips. Despite the higher spreads, BDSwiss scores a respectable 4-star rating from ForexBrokers.com and ranks #30 in their lineup of 63 brokers for commissions and fees.
Overall, Saxo stands out as the better choice for traders who can leverage its pricing strategy to their advantage, particularly for those with substantial trading volumes or larger initial investments. In contrast, BDSwiss might appeal to those who prioritize reasonable spreads and good order execution, although it lands further down the ranking list in terms of overall cost-effectiveness.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Saxo and BDSwiss in terms of available investment options, Saxo stands out with a broader range of offerings. Saxo provides access to an impressive 70,000 tradeable symbols, including 190 forex pairs. Additionally, Saxo enables clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing users to purchase shares of companies like Apple and Vodafone. BDSwiss, while offering forex trading and 1,081 tradeable symbols, only provides access to 53 forex pairs and does not offer exchange-traded securities from U.S. or international exchanges.
Both Saxo and BDSwiss offer forex trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither provides the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, both brokers facilitate copy trading, giving users the ability to mirror the trades of more experienced investors. In terms of ratings, Saxo is highly regarded, earning 5 stars for its range of investments and securing the third position among 63 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com rankings. In comparison, BDSwiss receives a respectable 4-star rating, ranking 34th in the same category.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing Saxo and BDSwiss, both online brokers provide key features essential for traders. They each offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, which can aid beginners in grasping market dynamics without risking real money. Additionally, both platforms are equipped with proprietary trading solutions and offer Windows-based desktop applications as well as web-based trading interfaces. For traders interested in copy trading, both brokers support this feature, enhancing opportunities to learn from and mirror successful trades. However, only BDSwiss provides the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, which are absent from Saxo’s offerings.
Charting and customization capabilities vary slightly between the two. Saxo users benefit from a greater number of drawing tools (20 versus BDSwiss’s 15) and can customize watch lists with up to 60 fields compared to just 7 fields with BDSwiss. Both platforms enable trading directly from stock charts, simplifying the trading experience. According to ForexBrokers.com, Saxo is rated five stars and holds the top spot for trading platforms and tools among 63 brokers, while BDSwiss earned four stars and is ranked 24th. This underscores Saxo's emphasis on delivering a comprehensive and versatile trading experience.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Saxo and BDSwiss offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, complete with stock and forex price alerts. However, Saxo takes a step further in creating a seamless experience with watchlist syncing capabilities, allowing changes made in the app to automatically update in the user's online account. In contrast, BDSwiss does not support this feature, making Saxo more convenient for those who frequently switch between devices.
When it comes to technical resources, Saxo outshines BDSwiss by offering 64 technical studies compared to BDSwiss's 30. Both apps facilitate drawing trendlines and permit viewing different time frames on charts, with auto-saving features for drawings and capabilities to create watchlists with real-time quotes. Despite these similarities, Saxo clinches a higher rating for its mobile app user experience, boasting 5 stars and a #2 ranking by ForexBrokers.com. BDSwiss, on the other hand, holds a 4-star rating and ranks at #24, making Saxo the more favorable choice for those seeking a comprehensive mobile trading platform.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Saxo and BDSwiss for market research offerings, Saxo clearly distinguishes itself with several key advantages. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and maintain an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global news events. However, Saxo surpasses BDSwiss in providing forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature that BDSwiss lacks. While both platforms offer tools from Autochartist, Saxo also includes a sentiment-based trading tool to better gauge market positions, which BDSwiss does not offer. These enhanced research capabilities contribute to Saxo's top rating and number one ranking in the research category among 63 brokers.
On the other hand, BDSwiss does provide unique value with its access to research tools from Trading Central, which Saxo does not include. Despite this advantage, BDSwiss is rated slightly lower with four stars for research compared to Saxo's five stars. Additionally, BDSwiss ranks at number 24 in the research category by ForexBrokers.com, indicating that although it provides solid resources, it does not quite match the comprehensive offerings and superior ranking that Saxo achieves in this domain.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Saxo and BDSwiss provide strong options. For those diving into forex or CFDs, each platform offers more than 10 educational materials, ranging from articles to videos and webinars. Both Saxo and BDSwiss host monthly online educational webinars and maintain searchable archives of past sessions. Whether you're just starting out or advancing in your trading journey, each broker provides a series of videos tailored to both beginner and experienced traders. Additionally, both platforms feature an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, catering to novices who are still getting familiar with the trading lingo.
However, when considering expert evaluations, Saxo holds a slight edge with a five-star rating for Education compared to BDSwiss's four stars. Additionally, Saxo is ranked 13th out of 63 brokers in the education category by ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss is positioned at 19th. Overall, both brokers offer substantial educational content, yet Saxo's higher rankings indicate a more comprehensive approach to trader education.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Saxo is better than BDSwiss. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
Saxo is an exclusive multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
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BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Both Saxo and BDSwiss allow investors to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform provides the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, offering traders a robust, yet limited, exposure to the crypto market.
When comparing online brokers Saxo and BDSwiss, BDSwiss stands out by offering ACH or SEPA transfers and Skrill for depositing or withdrawing funds, while both brokers provide options for Visa/Mastercard and bank wires, but neither supports PayPal transactions.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | BDSwiss Review |
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| Regulation | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Saxo Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | Saxo | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | BDSwiss Review |
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